Robinson's first year: a year of controversy and protest following his consecration as the first openly gay bishop hasn't dampened Gene Robinson's faith

Almost a year after V. Gene Robinson was consecrated as the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church USA (and named Person of the Year by The Advocate), a special commission created by ECUSA's parent, the worldwide Anglican Communion, addressed growing church divisions over homosexuality. This 17-member panel sought an apology from ECUSA for what it said was pain caused by Robinson's election. It also called for a moratorium on the ordination of sexually active gay clergy and on the blessing of same-sex unions.

But the October 18 report did not ask for Robinson's resignation nor call for any specific punishment; conservative church leaders across the globe wanted as much.

Robinson spoke to The Advocate about the report, and his first year as a bishop, from New York City, where he was receiving an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, the church's General Theological Seminary.

Were you surprised by the report?

I feel positive about it. It treated all members of the church with great respect. It offers a way forward. It remains to be seen whether people will take up this challenge or walk away. I intend to stay.

What is most significant about it?

This report is extremely significant for what it did not do. It did not call for repentance or for my removal. I was relieved that this commission did not give in to the temptation to do that. This commission represented the fullest possible spectrum of viewpoints, and the fact that all 17 members signed on to this report is just extraordinary.

Was there anything about it you did not like?

While the report talked about the pain caused to those who don't agree with my consecration, not one word is mentioned about the pain that gay and lesbian people have experienced at the hands of the church. I would have felt better if gay and lesbian people had been acknowledged and [if there had been] a serious call for regret from those people who have perpetrated that pain against gays and lesbians.

How do you feel about the moratorium on gay bishops and the blessing of same-sex unions?

When I fist read that, I was swept over with sadness and loneliness. I had not wanted to be the only one in this spot for much longer, and now I may have to be for a while. But moratoriums are a suspension of something that gets reinstated. Also, it does not say there ought to be a moratorium on same-sex blessings. It's talking about the development of officially sanctioned liturgies. We have been blessing same-sex unions in our diocese since 1996, but we have never had an authorized liturgy.

How did those in your diocese react to this?

This report started spitting out of our printer at 7 A.M., and by noon I was surrounded by clearly and lay leaders giving me their support. We have always felt this was part of God's plan. But we also said we would not doubt our own reality. We can hold on to our reality and still offer our expressions of regret.

Do you have any personal regrets?

No. You can't have prophetic action without pain. I feel as called to this ministry as I ever have.

So how have things been going in your diocese this past year?

Things are going wonderfully. We're growing. We've got people who were away from the church for 20 years who are canting back. We've got Catholic people coming to our church, saying "This is the kind of church we want to raise our kids in."

How's your partner, Mark, holding up?

He's great. He continues to be the love of my life and my greatest supporter. This has been a tough [year], and yet it continues to feel so much more like a blessing than a burden. I wouldn't trade my life for anybody's.

So what's next for the Episcopal Church?

I think this issue is going to be around for a long time. There will be people who will leave. But we ought to all be clear that those folks are not asked to leave. The rest of us want this to work.

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